Paul Casebonne, a tankerman with Blessey Marine Services, prepares to throw a line during the Maritime Throwdown finals, held May 28 at this year’s Inland Marine Expo. Casebonne won the competition, beating out two other mariners. (Photo by Frank McCormack)
IMX

Casebonne Wins 2025 Maritime Throwdown Finals At IMX

June 6, 2025 By Waterways Journal

This year’s Maritime Throwdown (MTD) finals, held during the opening reception of the Inland Marine Expo (IMX) May 28 in Nashville, Tenn., featured three mariners battling for a share of $10,000. Leighton Loveless, an apprentice mate with Central Boat Rentals and last year’s champion, defended his title against Raymond Leonard, an apprentice mate with Broussard Brothers, and Paul Casebonne, a tankerman with Blessey Marine Services.

Capt. Kenny Brown (center-left), founder of the Maritime Throwdown, stands with this year’s finalists, which included Raymond Leonard (left), an apprentice mate with Broussard Brothers; Leighton Loveless (right), an apprentice mate with Central Boat Rentals; and Paul Casebonne, tankerman with Blessey Marine Services, this year’s winner. (Photo by Frank McCormack)
Capt. Kenny Brown (center-left), founder of the Maritime Throwdown, stands with this year’s finalists, which included Raymond Leonard (left), an apprentice mate with Broussard Brothers; Leighton Loveless (right), an apprentice mate with Central Boat Rentals; and Paul Casebonne, tankerman with Blessey Marine Services, this year’s winner. (Photo by Frank McCormack)

The trio battled, not each other, but the MTD course, which included single- and two-part throws and technical tie-offs, knot tying, suit casing lines and donning a Type I life vest. The competitors were timed and scored based on accuracy in performing each task. New to this year’s course was the potential of drawing a yellow flag for an infraction, like stepping inside the bight of a line.

In the end, Casebonne edged Loveless for first place and bragging rights at this year’s MTD finals, with Leonard finishing third. With Casebonne’s win, the Maritime Throwdown trophy, a massive chrome kevel set on wooden base, will go to Blessey Marine Services, which has corporate offices in Harahan, La., and a Houston-area base of operations in Channelview, Texas.

For the 2025-2026 season, MTD will hold qualifiers at BBQ on the River in Paducah, Ky., in late September, the WorkBoat Show in New Orleans in early December and at the WIMOs clay shoot next spring. Capt. Kenny Brown, founder of Maritime Throwdown, said he also hopes to have qualifiers at America’s River Roots in Cincinnati in early October and sometime this year on the East Coast.

Winners at the qualifiers will earn an automatic spot in the finals, to be held at the 2026 Inland Marine Expo. Companies can bring the MTD course to special events and employee training days, Brown said, and top finishers at those events go on a running MTD leader board and have the potential for earning a spot in the finals as well.

For more information, visit www.maritimethrowdown.com.

Featured photo caption: Paul Casebonne, a tankerman with Blessey Marine Services, prepares to throw a line during the Maritime Throwdown finals, held May 28 at this year’s Inland Marine Expo. Casebonne won the competition, beating out two other mariners. (Photos by Frank McCormack)

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